For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf….
Therefore, if anyone one is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 17
Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
Psalm 55:22
Things do not always go as we plan. Things are sometimes downright awful. But in all things God is with us and He promises to keep us and keep us going.
Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
Luke 12:6-7
Do not call to mind former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
Behold I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.
Psalm 43:18-19
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:1
When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. After three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “Brethren, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.”
Acts 28:16-17
The Apostle Paul traveled all over the Mediterranean area preaching the gospel, but what he really wanted was to go to Rome. He did get to go to Rome, but not as he had planned – he went as a prisoner, arrested for preaching the gospel. It was not smooth sailing; the journey included a shipwreck. Paul got his wish. He preached as a prisoner. He was released when his jailers could find no grounds to hold him, and he preached to large crowds in Rome.
Sometimes God’s plan for our success is not exactly what we plan. We need not lose heart, but be confident that the best plan is God’s plan.
He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need.
Ephesians 4:28
The Church faces the dilemma of how best to serve new Christians who have criminal pasts. One way is to help them secure a jobs so they can earn money to live and support their families. This is no easy task, but by forming job clubs and recruiting employers who are willing to give those who want to change their lives an opportunity to do so, the Church can minster to those who are often under served by the Church.
And, enable those helped to help others who are in need.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25
This commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.
1 John 4:21
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Colossians 1: 16-17
Man in his finite wisdom tosses around all sorts of theories about the creation of earth, mankind and the universe. Some scientist would have us believe that theories are truth. The truth is theories are theories and although man has searched and searched, there is not concrete proof of any one theory of creation.
What I see is that things seem to work pretty good together. I don’t think gravity just happened, neither do I think that we just happened. I think that God planned it all. I don’t know whether or not it was literally a seven day project. What I do know is what the Bible says: “all things have been created through Him.”
No matter how hard man tries to mess things up, in the end, God will hold things together.
Jesus said, “And who of you by being worried can add a single day to his life?”
“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:27, 34
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.”
John 18:25
The Apostle Peter was famous for messing up. He was the guy who cut the Roman soldier’s ear off in the garden and who denied Christ three times in one day. Peter was not perfect, but he was forgiven and he became one of the most dynamic evangelists in the world, bringing thousands to know Jesus. So, awe inspiring was Peter’s ministry that he is the model for the Pope of the Catholic Church.
We all mess up. We all sin. We can beat ourselves up for our shortcomings and have a regular pity party. Or, we can ask God’s forgiveness and get on with the mission God has assigned us – to take the Gospel to the world.
Forget your sin because God has forgiven you, and get busy on the rest of the story.
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And whatever he does, he prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3
Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.
And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go, behold I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes, and greet no one on the way.”
Luke 10:2-3
We spend time thinking about why we can’t do things we are called to do. We worry that we aren’t good speakers or that our clothes aren’t good enough or people might not like what we say or that people will make fun of us or argue with us and we won’t know how to respond. It becomes all about what we do not have.
Jesus understands this and that is why He said we should go and not worry about what we don’t have but concentrate on delivering the message of salvation to those who are waiting to hear it. We can use glitz to spark interest in the message, but sometimes glitz is out of order when people are hurting and the simple truth of the Gospel is what they need.
So, let us just go do it – take the Gospel to the world. We can start right where we are and see what God will do. The message never changes; Jesus is the Savior of the world. Ask Him to come into your life today.
Go share the Gospel.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in…
Mathew 25:35
Do you not know you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16
God lives in us and we are filled with His Spirit. We should not be surprised when this spills out on those around us. We are to take the Gospel to the world, and God has equipped us well for this task.
Enjoy the journey.
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:11-13
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12
The people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.”
Numbers 21:5
We have all been there. Things aren’t going the way we think they should, so we complain to God. We may be struggling financially or with unruly kids or we may be suffering from a severe case of, “Why me?” It doesn’t matter what it is that sets us off, once we start complaining, it’s hard to stop. So, what do we do?
We can remember that it is human nature to whine about what we think is not right in life. And, remember that God has promised to provide everything we need, plus the desires of our heart. We can trust God and thank Him for His never ending love and care.
After all, God saw fit to deliver the Israelite to the promise land and they were serial whiners. Why not me, too?
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 84:11
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
James 1:5
He raises up the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them He has set the world.
1 Samuel 2:8
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over former sins. It was to show His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:23-26
